Are Hitler-Trump Comparisons Fair? A Holocaust Survivor Tells His Son

[steve2470]

http://www.thewrap.com/are-hitler-trump-comparisons-fair-a-holocaust-survivor-tells-his-son/

Was he worried? Did it bring back any memories? Did he think that Trump was in fact borrowing ideas from “Mein Kampf?”

The short answer is “yes.”

“One of the things people used to say about Hitler when he rose to power in the early 1930’s was that he was saying it like it is,” my dad told me over the phone from Tel Aviv. “They thought he was a bit of a clown, with his big speeches and over-the-top showmanship, but they also admired his ability to say what everyone thought, but didn’t dare say out loud.”

“Are you worried?” I asked.

“Not yet,” he answered. “But there is definitely room for concern.”

[canetoad]

1. Totally valid

I recently re-watched 'The Nazis: A Warning from History' which examines the rise to power. There are parallels.

Coincidentally, I posted this http://www.democraticunderground.com/10028136960 in GD a few minutes after this post. The pic is the deportation of the Lodz ghetto.

[uponit7771]

2. I wonder if the media in Germany was a milk toast as ours is here when it came to Hitler?!?!

Did they concentrate on the postal mail of Hitlers opponents?

[Buzz cook]

3. I've always thought the proscription against

comparing people to Nazis didn't make sense. If we are bound by "never again" then waiting till a group actually starts a modern genocide seems a bit late.

To take the proscription to the absudist level, we couldn't even call Hitler a Nazi till he started building camps.

[unblock]

4. Without the armband, mustache, and salute, no one would recognize hitler

Indeed, the hitler people think of when they say it can't happen here is hitler 1944.

They forget that it's hitler 1933 that we need to be able to recognize and stop.

Once he became chancellor and got the enabling act, it was already too late.

[trixie]

5. I would say as early or even earlier then 1931

Historical records show that American politicians were suppressing the stories out of Germany. Hitler was changing "the party" from within first.

[Fast Walker 52]

12. I think the problem is the comparison was over-used, especially in ridiculous ways by the rightwing

against the left... and now we have someone who seems much more like a real Nazi, and of course they are a Rethug. And Rethugs don't care because he's one of theirs.

[Bradical79]

6. I agree with the statement about there being room for concern

I'm not sure the mechanisms or support level exist for Trump to be American Hitler as far as power goes (and I think he still is very unlikely to win a fair election), but he does seem to be emulating Hitler in a number of unsettling ways. I have a hard time not believing it's intentional.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

7. Mango Mussolini

(someone at DU coined that phrase)

[MarinCoUSA]

8. If Josh Marshall at TMP says it is, for me it is. "Blood and Race and Trump

Josh Marshall has remarked that without even listening to this speech is was early Munich beerhall Hitler.


http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/blood-and-race-and-trump

[JustAnotherGen]

9. Great comments from JM

Thank you for posting

[Fast Walker 52]

13. the comparison between the diplomat Hitler in a business suit with fiery Hitler giving populist

speeches seems apt for yesterday's events.

[Demsrule86]

10. Trump voters. We have seen their sort before.

[napkinz]

11. ...

[Demsrule86]

17. Great find...and so true.

You wonder how people could have shoved babies into gas chambers during WWII...but last night I saw how it could happen...those people at the trump rally and I use the term 'people' loosely would do anything ...in order to 'make America Great again ' which really means...'Keep America Mostly White' (must have someone to work in your yard or house;come one was slavery really that bad? sarcasm).

[Fast Walker 52]

14. that T-P logo is uncannily like some sort of futuristic nightmare swastika

[Demsrule86]

16. Right?

I 'borrowed' it from a progressive website...I should give credit but I can't remember which one...they got it elsewhere too.

[napkinz]

15. ...